Every single day in my clinic, someone asks, “Doctor, is it true that only costly creams give real results?” My answer is always the same: No. Your skin doesn’t check the price tag before it decides to glow. It only cares about the right ingredients, used regularly, in the correct way.
Expensive doesn’t always mean better
Most of the extra money you pay goes into fancy glass jars and golden boxes, Bollywood celebrity ads, perfume and silky textures and the “luxury” feeling.
None of these fix pimples, pigmentation, or wrinkles.
What actually works are simple, proven ingredients: Sunscreen filters, vitamin C, niacinamide, retinoids, ceramides, and gentle acids. These are the same molecules whether they come in a Rs 400 tube or a Rs 4,000 bottle.
Real-life proof:
* A Rs 450 sunscreen with SPF 50 protects you exactly like a Rs 4,500 one.
* Government-supplied tretinoin cream (Rs 150–200) is stronger and more effective than most fancy anti-ageing serums.
* Plain Vaseline (Rs 100) seals moisture better than many Rs 3,000 “night repair balms”.
What really matters
- The active ingredient (not the brand name)
- The correct strength (5 per cent niacinamide works; 0.5 per cent is just marketing)
- A formula that suits your skin type
- Using it every single day without fail
A Rs 600 gel used religiously will beat a Rs 6,000 cream used once a week.
Also read: Is collagen truly good for the skin—or just another beautifully packaged illusion?
A baseline routine
Where you can happily save money
* Cleansers: Any gentle, soap-free, pH-balanced one under Rs400 is perfect.
* Moisturisers: Look for ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane—available in Rejuglow, Fixderma, Dot & Key, Minimalist, etc.
* Niacinamide, salicylic acid, azelaic acid: Excellent budget options everywhere now.
Where a little extra can help (only sometimes)
* Latest-generation sunscreens (Tinosorb, Uvinul) that feel light and non-sticky—worth it if you hate white casts.
* Properly stabilised vitamin C (so it doesn’t turn brown in a week).
* Gentle over-the-counter retinol (prescription tretinoin is still cheaper and stronger).
Here’s the baseline for a super-effective routine, which lasts two to three months.
Morning
- Simple gentle cleanser (Rs 300–400)
- Vitamin C serum – optional ( Rs600–800)
- Light moisturiser (Rs 400–600)
- Good sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ (Rs 500–900)
Night
- Same cleanser
- One active: niacinamide OR salicylic acid OR prescription tretinoin (Rs 150–700)
- Same moisturiser
This basic routine, followed daily, gives better skin than most people spending Rs 20,000+ every month.
The real game-changers are almost or completely free.
* Wearing sunscreen daily (biggest anti-ageing tool on the planet)
* Drinking water and eating fruits/vegetables
* Sleeping seven to eight hours
* Managing stress
* Not picking your pimples
* One good dermatologist visit when needed (often cheaper and faster than buying 10 wrong products)
Also read: Is Indian skincare better than Korean, French, Japanese products?
When luxury makes sense
If a beautiful jar makes you excited to do your routine every day—go for it! Joy matters. Just don’t believe it’s medically superior.
Beautiful, healthy skin is not about how much you spend. It’s about using the right actives, every day, for months and years, while living a healthy life.
Skincare is science + consistency, not a luxury shopping spree.
Start simple, stay patient, and save your money for vacations instead of vanity. Your skin will thank you—and so will your bank balance!
Dr Deepali Bhardwaj is a Consultant Dermatologist, Max Hospital, Saket. She is also an anti-allergy specialist, laser surgeon and internationally trained aesthetician. She tweets @dermatdoc. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)